Rating: 
Summary: Language nightmare
Review: Anyone who knows Spanish will be tormented by Reding's book as he insists on translating even NAMES to English. He translates idiomatic expressions in Spanish into non-idiomatic (thus nonsensical) English! Grrr...... He does not give a glossary of terms or any footnotes. If you speak even un poquito de espanol, this will frustrate you very much. I could not finish the book.
Rating: 
Summary: A Fascinating Person and a Fascinating Story
Review: I had the pleasure of meeting Nick Reding earlier this year, and as I chatted with him over some drinks, I was really struck by the thought, "This guy has led a really amazing life!" As a result, I went out and grabbed this book and as I read it, I became even more amazed.Nick tells the story of his experiences in the Chilean Patagonia in a way that draw you in to every moment. The vividness of his writing and the beauty of some of his comparisons made this quite an enjoyable read. His attention to detail leaves the reader with a feeling that they are right there staring over Nick's shoulder as he goes about life in a very different part of the world. Nick has that knack that some of the best writers have of being able to see the common thread that exists between very different experiences and places. This book is also extremely well researched with a lot of attention to historical detail, but this detail is not integrated in a dry textbook like manner. Instead when Nick feels it is neccessary to illuminate the reader about a particular piece of history to provide context for an event, he explains that history without distracting from the main storyline. Overall, this is an excellent piece of writing and I look forward to future books by Nick (he assures me at least one more is on the way).
Rating:
Summary: A Fascinating Person and a Fascinating Story
Review: I had the pleasure of meeting Nick Reding earlier this year, and as I chatted with him over some drinks, I was really struck by the thought, "This guy has led a really amazing life!" As a result, I went out and grabbed this book and as I read it, I became even more amazed. Nick tells the story of his experiences in the Chilean Patagonia in a way that draw you in to every moment. The vividness of his writing and the beauty of some of his comparisons made this quite an enjoyable read. His attention to detail leaves the reader with a feeling that they are right there staring over Nick's shoulder as he goes about life in a very different part of the world. Nick has that knack that some of the best writers have of being able to see the common thread that exists between very different experiences and places. This book is also extremely well researched with a lot of attention to historical detail, but this detail is not integrated in a dry textbook like manner. Instead when Nick feels it is neccessary to illuminate the reader about a particular piece of history to provide context for an event, he explains that history without distracting from the main storyline. Overall, this is an excellent piece of writing and I look forward to future books by Nick (he assures me at least one more is on the way).
Rating:
Summary: A Fascinating Person and a Fascinating Story
Review: I had the pleasure of meeting Nick Reding earlier this year, and as I chatted with him over some drinks, I was really struck hy the though, "This guy has led a really amazing life!" As a result, I went out and grabbed this book and as I read it, I became even more amazed. Nick tells the story of his experiences in the Chilean Patagonia in a way that draw you in to every moment. The vividness of his writing and the beauty of some of his comparisons made this quite an enjoyable read. His attention to detail leaves the reader with a feeling that they are right there staring over Nick's shoulder as he goes about life in a very different part of the world. Nick has that knack that some of the best writers have of being able to see the common thread that exists between very different experiences and places. This book is also extremely well researched with a lot of attention to historical detail, but this detail is not integrated in a dry textbook like manner. Instead when Nick feels it is neccessary to illuminate the reader about a particular piece of history to provide context for an event, he explains that history without distracting from the main storyline. Overall, this is an excellent piece of writing and I look forward to future books by Nick (he assures me at least one more is on the way).
Rating:
Summary: A Fascinating Person and a Fascinating Story
Review: I had the pleasure of meeting Nick Reding earlier this year, and as I chatted with him over some drinks, I was really struck hy the though, "This guy has led a really amazing life!" As a result, I went out and grabbed this book and as I read it, I became even more amazed. Nick tells the story of his experiences in the Chilean Patagonia in a way that draw you in to every moment. The vividness of his writing and the beauty of some of his comparisons made this quite an enjoyable read. His attention to detail leaves the reader with a feeling that they are right there staring over Nick's shoulder as he goes about life in a very different part of the world. Nick has that knack that some of the best writers have of being able to see the common thread that exists between very different experiences and places. This book is also extremely well researched with a lot of attention to historical detail, but this detail is not integrated in a dry textbook like manner. Instead when Nick feels it is neccessary to illuminate the reader about a particular piece of history to provide context for an event, he explains that history without distracting from the main storyline. Overall, this is an excellent piece of writing and I look forward to future books by Nick (he assures me at least one more is on the way).
Rating:
Summary: A bit of rubbish
Review: If Mr. Redding did indeed live in the Cisnes/Aysen region, as he claims, then he invented a great deal, including a ruse of isolation. His description of Coyhaique is quite misleading, particularly with respect to the alleged degree of poverty in the city. .... In fact Coyhaique is generally hard-working and comparatively quite prosperous. The regional social system helps those very few who may have fallen on hard times, although alcoholism is a problem here as elsewhere in Chile. But you will probably never see the sort of begging on the streets that characterises so many Chilean cities further north, unless it is the case of middle-class kids cadging coins for their video games. Nor is the upper Cisnes valley quite as remote as the author would have you believe. In four hours of travel you can be at a jet airport (at Balmaceda) or sitting at a computer terminal for internet access at the library annex in Coyhaique. There are parts of Nevada, in the US, that are worse off. I would ask that the reviewers who have been bamboozled by this box of errors take the time to rectify their mistakes, or at least admit that they have no idea where Coyhaique is, much less what it is made of.
Rating:
Summary: A book you won't forget
Review: If you cherish the ways in which John McPhee and Barry Lopez make meaning out of landscape, if you appreciate a writer with an observant heart and a feel for language, and if you wonder how people manage to live--for well and for ill--in a world turned inside out, this is the book for you. By turns harrowing, hilarious, and touching, "The Last Cowboys" will command your attention and remain in your thoughts long after you have read the last page.
Rating:
Summary: Gauchos are not chilean
Review: If you have been to Cisnes,Patagonia (or want to go there) this is a must book to read. I spent 10 days in this area in February, 2002 and saw some of the people that Nick writes about. In reading the book Nick made me feel that I was back there as I could visualize where the events were taking place. The changes to Coyhaique have continued since 1999 as I found it to be a very modern town. After reading this book I would like to make a return trip.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read!!!
Review: If you have been to Cisnes,Patagonia (or want to go there) this is a must book to read. I spent 10 days in this area in February, 2002 and saw some of the people that Nick writes about. In reading the book Nick made me feel that I was back there as I could visualize where the events were taking place. The changes to Coyhaique have continued since 1999 as I found it to be a very modern town. After reading this book I would like to make a return trip.
Rating:
Summary: Reads like a novel
Review: It is a rare surprise to pick up a non-fiction book on an obscure subject, only to find that it reads like a novel. Fascinating, vivid descriptions of characters and environment remind one of Cormac McCarthy's western stories. Keep up the great work, Nick.
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